Every Goes Low in Greenbrier Classic


For the second straight day, a player carded an 8-under 62 in the Greenbrier Classic. The $6.3 million PGA Tour event began Thursday on the Old TPC White course at the historic Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.

Mimicking the performances of first-round leaders, Tommy Gainey and Johnson Wagner, Matt Every joined the 62 crowd Friday. After opening with a 69, the 29-year-old Floridian moved into solo first at 9-under 131, one shot ahead of five players.

Every, in search of his first Tour win, enjoyed a flawless round with four birdies on his front nine and four more on the back.

Sharing second at 132 are Americans Daniel Summerhays (67), Bill Lunde (66), Russell Henley (65) and Wagner (70), along with Australian Steven Bowditch (67). Another stroke back are Ben Curtis (66), Gainey (71), England's Greg Owen (66) and Sweden's Jonas Blixt (67).

Coming off his first major victory in last week's Senior Players Championship at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh, Kenny Perry is continuing his fine play. The 52-year-old Kentuckian has recorded rounds of 68 and 67 to safely make the weekend cut. Also at 135 is defending champion Ted Potter Jr., who fired a 66 to move up the leaderboard.

Another senior player, World Golf Hall of Fame member and Greenbrier's pro emeritus, 63-year-old Tom Watson, shot a 69 to reach 3-under 137, the same number as 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson (69).

The cut was set at 1-under 139. For his third time in three Greenbrier Classics, Phil Mickelson didn't qualify for the weekend. Though he carded a 2-under 68 Friday, the four-time major champion couldn't overcome an opening 74.

Lefty told PGATour.com later that he believes he's found the reason for his woes in the Mountaineer State. "I hit a lot of good shots and I think I've figured out why I've struggled here," he said. "It's my distance control with my irons I haven't figured out yet. We're a couple thousand feet, we've been practicing at sea level, so obviously it's going to go longer. It's the same altitude as Phoenix but it goes a different yardage and I haven't quite figured it out."

Despite not making the cut, Mickelson enjoys the tournament's host site. "I think it's one of the best architecturally designed golf courses that we've played," he added. "I mean, I'm looking at every hole, studying it, learning from it. I thought the course set-up was fabulous this year, I just think it's a great track."

Following a 75 on Thursday, two-time major winner John Daly withdrew. After recording two bogeys in his first three holes Daly pulled out, citing an elbow injury. Daly later tweeted he'll be undergoing surgery on the troublesome elbow next week.

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